Honeymoon inspiration – client service
Written by Alex Holt, Director of Business Development at The Cashroom I promise I didn’t spend my honeymoon in Cornwall thinking about the legal sector and business generally. That would be tragic, and may well be the sort of thing that would lead to a very brief marriage. However, when I got back to my […]
November 2020 – Land Registry Transaction Data
Data released by HM Land Registry have demonstrated that the number of applications they receive each month has continued to rise, with over 57,000 more applications processed in the last month than in October. The Transaction Data indicates that in November, 1,745,730 applications were completed by Land Registry. For regional applications, the South East came […]
Chancellor must avoid knee jerk reaction to tax increases
The Chancellor must avoid a knee jerk reaction to tax increases according to a leading property management firm. Apropos by DJ Alexander, a UK-wide letting firm, believes that the widely trailed increases to capital gains tax (CGT) will have an unprecedented negative impact upon the private rented sector (PRS) and the wider housing market. If, […]
Don’t Let Lack Of Time Lead You Into Trouble
Our ‘Technical Corner’ brings you information that will help you to continue to grow and develop in your career. This month’s technical corner article comes from Amy Bell, CEO at Teal Compliance If you have any questions for our panel of experts, please submit them using the contact form below. We will publish the […]
Significant rise in Conveyancers ordering ‘out of hours’ searches
There has been a significant increase in the number of property searches being submitted ‘out of hours’ by conveyancers. The extreme challenges and difficulties of coronavirus has impacted greatly on the conveyancing industry causing the profession immense pressure and stress. UK’s largest provider of legal due diligence for commercial and residential property transactions, Searchflow, and […]
Is the high street really dying?
On 4th November 2020, the Women in Residential Property network met for yet another engaging industry discussion; this time, about the future of the high street. Hosted by WiRP Chair Emma Vigus (also MD of mio), guest speakers Damian Sumner, Partner at Brasier Freeth, and Trevor Watson, Director at Davis Coffer Lyons, shared their first-hand […]
Selling a House with a Septic Tank : Does it comply with legislation?
Homeowners with septic tanks in England need to check if their tanks comply with recent changes in the law governing off-mains drainage. If they don’t, the owners may find it impossible to sell their properties in future. Thousands of properties in rural areas currently rely on private drainage arrangements, primarily septic tanks, to dispose of […]
The most effective way for conveyancers and lenders to communicate
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to delays in all parts of the home buying process with conveyancing and searches bearing a heavy toll. Today’s Conveyancer spoke to a few lenders about how to improve relationships with conveyancers and many said early and regular communication is key using a mix of phone, emails and web based […]
Search Acumen comments on HMRC’s Q3 2020 SDLT receipts
• Stamp Duty receipts rise 27% over the last quarter, increasing to £1.9bn in Q3 2020, up from £1.5bn in Q2 20201 • Number of property transactions liable for Stamp Duty jumps 68% over the last quarter, rising to 250,500 Q3 2020, up from 149,000 in Q2 20201 Andy Sommerville, Director at Search Acumen, says: […]
SearchFlow responds to ONS House Price Index
SearchFlow, the UK’s leading property search provider in residential and commercial markets, today responds to the latest House Price Index from the Office of National Statistics, which shows a rise of 4.7% in the year to September 2020, with average prices now standing at £245,000, a rise of £11,000 since September 2019. Dr Tom Quirke, […]
Digital Identity Group – Digital Identity Trust Framework for homes sales sector, releases project overview
Following on from the hugely success Digital Identity Group meeting in October, the project has released details of its plans to build a Digital Identity Trust Framework for the property sector. The project overview, which has been pulled together by Stuart Young of Edinburgh-based Etive Technologies, seeks to tackle the longstanding challenge of multiple identity […]
Conveyancers address potential transaction termination if deadline missed
A large website-based price comparison business has revealed that as many as a quarter may pull out of their property transaction if they miss the stamp duty holiday deadline. Last month MoneySupermarket surveyed 2,000 people who are currently buying property, it revealed that 24% said they would terminate the potential purchase if they think it […]
Movers and Shakers – 20th November 2020
Here at Today’s Conveyancer, we wanted to share with you the good news we’ve had within in the industry of professionals joining firms and those who have moved up the promotional ladder. This week we’ve seen the following announcements with regards to appointments and promotions: Richard Bray joins the Board of CoPSO The Council of […]
Hackney Council SDLT deadline missed for searches
Hackney Council is the very first local authority to confirm that searches will now miss the stamp duty holiday deadline. The reason behind the announcement was due to an advanced criminal cyber attack which has left the Local Authority unable to process searches. The Council is now working with the National Cyber Security Centre and […]
Active Firms leap 56% and transactions double from Q2 – but can the recovery last?
• The number of active firms jumped 56% in Q3 2020, rising to 3,751, up from 2,411 in Q2 2020 • Conveyancing volumes increased sharply by 105% over the last quarter, climbing to 169,143 in Q3, up from 82,385 in the previous quarter • First registrations experienced the biggest jump of transaction types over the […]
Key industry bodies open letter pushes Chancellor to extend SDLT
Key property industry bodies have come together and sent another strong open letter to Chancellor requesting an extension to the current stamp duty land tax (SDLT) holiday due to the profession being under immense pressure and stress. The Conveyancing Association joined the Society of Licensed Conveyancers and the Bold Legal Group to send a letter […]
Creating great client experiences in challenging times
We are almost two weeks into Lockdown v2.0. This time around it feels different. It is both easier and tougher to deal with in equal measure. The courts have remained open, but lots of appearances are delayed with much activity conducted virtually, we can remain working and ‘open’, but can no longer have face to […]
HMLR Seek Feedback on Digital Identity Checks
HMLR have published a draft set of requirements aimed at encouraging digital identity checks in the conveyancing sector. The draft “Safe Harbour Standard” outlines the steps conveyancers are expected to take to verify client identity. The enhanced level of check is defined by reference to a set of requirements, collectively known as the “Safe Harbour […]
ALEP Directors pen letter to Housing Minister on leasehold reform
Directors of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) have written to Housing Minister, Christopher Pincher MP calling for an update on when the Government will issue its response to the Law Commission’s recommendation for leasehold reform. In July 2020, the Law Commission presented Government with its recommendations for reform which, if adopted, would hail huge changes to the […]
Lawyer Checker to Host Crucial Panel Discussion as Cybercrime Reaches New Heights
The Solicitors Regulation Authority have recently publicised their first thematic review investigating the impact of cybercrime. The review has highlighted a number of troublesome statistics making it definitively apparent that cyber related incidents leading to fraud remain one of the largest threats the legal sector faces. The SRA conducted the review by selecting a randomised […]
